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TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, WARREN COUNTY
Reorganization Meeting
January 1, 2005
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, WARREN COUNTY
Reorganization Meeting for 2005
The Clerk , Mary Ann O’Neil swore in Michael A Kovacs and John A Horensky for a three-year term on the Township Committee.
REORGANIZATION MEETING
January 1, 2005
The Clerk, called to order the 2005 Reorganization Meeting of the Washington Township Committee at 12:05 p.m. on this date at the Municipal/Police Building located on Little Philadelphia Road.
SUNSHINE LAW COMPLIANCE - The Clerk noted that this meeting was being held in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Law of 1975 in as much as a notice had been published in the Star Gazette and transmitted to the Express Times and posted at the Administration and Municipal building.
ROLL CALL: Dempski, present; Horensky, present; Kovacs, present; Mueller, present; Strunk, present.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
NOMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR
1. The Clerk asked for nominations for Mayor of Washington Township for a one year term. Strunk nominated David Dempski, Mueller seconded. Kovacs made a motion to nominate John Horensky. There were no other nominations for mayor. Kovacs made a motion to close the nominations for mayor, Strunk seconded.
ROLL CALL ON NOMINATIONS: The Clerk asked for asked for votes on Dempski nomination: Strunk, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes; Horensky said that before he voted he wanted to make a few comments. When he made a decision not to seek reelection of mayor he contacted Barry Mueller, who was Deputy Mayor and asked if he would be interested in the position of Mayor. Mueller indicted that he was not interested in being mayor and shortly thereafter Horensky met with David Dempski. They had some very lengthy conversations, which were very meaningful in some respects, but there were some issues that he had with Dempski which he mentioned. Horensky said he also mentioned these issues to Dempski this morning and they deal primarily with a decision making process that he thinks is not really appropriate for the Township, but good government in general. Horensky believes that the government should not be run on personal agendas, and they should not be run based on personal issues, although they do come into play in every decision made. Horensky said in context of good government you have to isolate them and look at the big picture, instead of identifying certain particular issues, then hanging your hat on them. Horensky said, based on that conversation and discussions held with Dempski, Horensky voted no; Kovacs, no. The Clerk asked for votes on the nomination for Horensky for Mayor, Kovacs, yes; Dempski, no; Horensky, abstain; Mueller, no; Strunk, no. The Clerk asked Dempski to take the oath and be sworn in as Mayor for a one year term expiring 12/31/05.
NOMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY MAYOR
2. Mueller nominated Strunk as Deputy Mayor, Strunk seconded the nomination. Horensky nominated Mueller as Deputy Mayor, but Mueller declined. Kovacs made a motion to close nominations, Horensky seconded. All were in favor.
ROLL CALL ON NOMINATION: Mueller, yes; Strunk, yes; Kovacs, yes; Horensky, no; Dempski, yes. The Clerk swore the Deputy Mayor for a one year term expiring 12/31/05.
OTHER NOMINATIONS
3. Kovacs made a motion that Edward J. Glynn, of Pfeiffer, Winegar, Wilhelm and Glynn be appointed as Township Attorney for a one year term, at the rate of $125/hour and a flat rate fee of $460 per meeting, expiring 12/31/05, Horensky seconded. The Mayor said the current rate is $125/hour and he has requested an increase per meeting from $360 per meeting to $460 per meeting.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes.
4. Mueller made a motion that Mary Ann O’Neil, Township Clerk, be appointed as Election Official, Affirmative Action Officer, Secretary to the Local Board of Health, Secretary for the Safety Committee, Custodian of Government Records, and Public Agency Compliance Officer for a one year term ending 12/31/05, Strunk seconded.
ROLL CALL: Mueller, yes; Strunk, yes; Kovacs, yes; Horensky, yes; Dempski, yes.
5. Strunk made a motion that Anna C. Godfrey, Administrative Secretary, be appointed as Deputy Election Official and Deputy Custodian of Government Records for a one year term expiring 12/31/05, Kovacs seconded.
ROLL CALL: Strunk, yes; Kovacs, yes; Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
6. Horensky made a motion that Jo Ann Fascenelli be appointed as Deputy Treasurer for a one year term expiring 12/31/05, Strunk seconded.
ROLL CALL: Horensky, yes; Strunk, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
7. Kovacs made a motion that Michael Schmidt be appointed as 911 Coordinator for a one year term expiring 12/31/05, Strunk seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Strunk, yes; Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
8. Strunk made a motion that Thomas Bocko be appointed as Zoning Official for a one year term expiring, 12/31/05, Mueller seconded.
ROLL CALL: Strunk, yes; Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Dempski, yes.
9. Horensky made a motion that Betty & Gary Wysocki be appointed as Animal Control Officers for a one year term expiring 12/31/05, Strunk seconded.
ROLL CALL: Horensky, yes; Strunk, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
10. Mueller made a motion that Daniel Wyckoff be appointed to the Office of Aging for a one year term expiring 12/31/05, Horensky seconded.
ROLL CALL: Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes.
11. Robert Miller was reappointed as Township Engineer, 2nd year of a 3 year term.
12. Strunk made a motion that Nancy Jacobsen be appointed as Assistant Court Administrator for a one year term expiring 12/31/05, Horensky seconded.
ROLL CALL: Strunk, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
Kovacs made a motion that Roger Skoog be appointed as Municipal Prosecutor for a one year term, expiring 12/31/05, Horensky seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes.
Kovacs made a motion that Donald J. Farino be appointed as Public Defender, term expiring 12/31/05. Mueller seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes.
Strunk made a motion that Enrico De Paulus be appointed as Sergeant at Arms for a one year term, expiring 12/31/05, Horensky seconded.
ROLL CALL: Strunk, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
Horensky made a motion that any Washington Township Police Officer be appointed a Sergeant at Arms for a one year term, expiring 12/31/05, Strunk seconded.
ROLL CALL: Horensky, yes; Strunk, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
13. Mueller made a motion that Jo Ann Fascenelli and Peter de Boer be appointed as Recycling Coordinators for a one year term expiring 12/31/05, Horensky seconded.
ROLL CALL: Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes.
14. Horensky made a motion that Randy Nelson of Ernst & Young be appointed as Municipal Auditor, for a one year term expiring 12/31/05, to do the 2004 audit, Kovacs seconded. Kovacs asked that Horensky’s motion be amended to say Randy Nelson, pursuant to verification that the fees paid Ernst and Young for the current year be for the 2004 audit, Kovacs seconded amendment.
ROLL CALL: Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Strunk, no; Dempski, yes.
Horensky made a motion that David Evans of Nisivoccia & Company be appointed as Municipal Auditor, to prepare the 2005 Budget at a price of $2500 , Strunk seconded.
ROLL CALL: Horensky, yes; Strunk, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
Kovacs made a motion that David Evans of Nisivoccia & Company be appointed as Municipal Auditor, to do the 2005 audit, as per their proposal, Horensky seconded.
ROLL CALL; Kovacs, yes; Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes.
15. Kovacs made a motion that Steven Rogut, of Rogut & McCarthy be appointed Bond Counsel for a one year term expiring 12/31/05, Horensky seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes.
16. Strunk made a motion that Joseph Fisher, GeoSciences, be appointed as consultant for a one year period for Land Use Board expiring 12/31/05, at the hourly rate of $150/hour, Dempski, seconded.
ROLL CALL: Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes.
17. Mueller made a motion that Pat Kollar be appointed as Municipal Alliance Coordinator for a one year period expiring 12/31/05, Strunk seconded.
ROLL CALL: Mueller, yes; Strunk, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Dempski, yes.
18. Dempski made a motion that R J Strunk be appointed as Municipal Alliance Member from the Township for a one year period expiring 12/31/05, Kovacs seconded.
ROLL CALL: Dempski, yes; Kovacs, yes; Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Strunk, yes.
19. Cef Garcia was reappointed to his 2nd year of a 3 year term. Horensky said he thought the Committee should be taking a look at the activities of the Emergency Management Coordinator. It is a very responsible position and the Committee might consider creating a Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator position.
Horensky would like the Committee at a future meeting to discuss this possibility to make sure there is adequate coverage that is needed. Kovacs said, in the past, the deputy was the Emergency Management Coordinator from the Borough and Garcia was deputy for the Boro. Strunk said that Jim Vergos is interested in this position. Kovacs made a motion to create the position of Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, Horensky seconded. Vergos said he was interested in the position.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski.
20. Horensky made a motion that Bruce D. Smith be appointed as Sewerage Consultant for a one year period, expiring 12/31/05, at the rate of $70/hour, Mueller seconded.
ROLL CALL: Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Kovacs, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski ,yes.
21. Strunk made a motion that CREW Engineers, Inc. be appointed as Sewerage Consulting Engineers for a one year period, expiring 12/31/05, at a rate of between $120 and $125/hour, Mueller seconded.
ROLL CALL: Strunk, yes; Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Dempski, yes.
ORDINANCE
Strunk made a motion that Ordinance 05-01, Salary Ordinance, be approved on first reading, Mueller seconded .
Kovacs said that on the court salaries, more talking will have to be done on this, he was not happy with what he saw was proposed on salaries. It can be passed the way it is and can revise it during the budget process if they wanted to do so. Public hearing and second reading January 18, 2005.
ROLL CALL: Strunk, yes; Mueller, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Dempski, yes.
Strunk made a motion that Ordinance 05-02, Ordinance Reauthorizing the Open Space Trust Fund for the Township of Washington be approved on first reading, Horensky seconded. Public hearing and second reading January 18, 2005.
ROLL CALL; Strunk, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
RESOLUTIONS
Any item for discussion should be removed prior to approval. Otherwise, one motion will cover all items on Consent Agenda. Strunk asked that 05-24 be voted on separately. Kovacs made a motion that Resolutions 04-01 through and including 04-23 be approved, Strunk seconded.
ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Strunk, yes; Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Dempski, yes.
1. R05-01 Official Depositories and Investment Bank
2. R05-02 Cash Management Plan
3. R05-03 Authorizing Investment of Idle Funds and Fund Transfer
4. R05-04 Establish Petty Cash Fund
5. R05-05 Designating Official Newspaper
6. R05-06 Interest on Delinquent Taxes and Assessments
7. R05-07 Tax Assessor/Township Attorney Stipulation
8. R05-08 Temporary Budget
9. R05-09 Regular Meetings of the Township Committee and Board of Health
10. R05-10 Award of Contract for Professional Services Without Public Bid (Township Attorney)
11. R05-11 Award of Contract for Professional Services Without Public Bid (Township Auditor)
12 R05-12 Award of Contract for Professional Services Without Public Bid (Robert Miller, Twp Engineer)
13. R05-13 Award of Contract for Professional Services Without Public Bid (Bond Council)
14. R05-14 Award of Contract for Professional Services Without Public Bid (Public Defender, Donald Farino)
15. R05-15 Award of Contract for Professional Services Without Public Bid (Crew Engineers/Consultant)
16. R05-16 Award of Contract for Professional Services Without Public Bid (Bruce Smith/Sewerage Consultant)
17. R05-17 Award of Contract for Professional Services Without Public Bid (Martin Allen, Spec Tax Council)
18. R05-18 Award of Contract for Professional Services Without Public Bid (Pat Kollar/Mun Alliance)
19. R05-19 Resolution to continue and administer and fund administration of General Assistance Program
20. R05-20 Resolution Designating a Public Agency Compliance Officer ((Mary Ann O’Neil)
21. R05-21 Resolution Adopting a Uniform Notice of Claim
22. R05-22 Resolution Appointing a Public Alliance Insurance Coverage Fund Commissioner
23. R05-23 Salary Resolution - (Margaret Housman - eff. 6/30/04)
Kovacs made a motion that Resolution 05-24 2005 Salary Resolution be approved, Horensky seconded. There was discussion on having a resolution prepared for the next meeting creating the position of Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator. Kovacs said this cannot be official until the salary could be obtained.
ROLL: Kovacs, yes; Horensky, yes; Mueller, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS
LAND USE BOARD
Class I - The Land Use Board, Class I Member is Mayor David Dempski for a one year term expiring 12/31/05
Class II - The Mayor appointed Evan Howell, Tax Collector, as the Class II Member of the Land Use Board for a one year term expiring 12/31/05.
Class III - Mueller made a motion that Richard J Strunk be reappointed Class III Member on the Land Use Board for a one year term expiring 12/31/05, Kovacs seconded.
ROLL CALL: Mueller, yes; Kovacs, yes; Horensky, yes; Strunk, yes; Dempski, yes.
Class IV - The Mayor reappointed Mark Rossi for a Class IV Member for a four year term expiring 12/31/08
Class IV - The Mayor appointed Philip Iwanizyn as a Class IV Member , expiring 12/31/08.
Class IV: The Mayor appointed Debra Pietrangelo as a Class IV Member, expiring 12/31/07
Alternate 1 - The Mayor appointed Tom Birkner , Alternate 1 for a two-year term, expiring 12/31/06.
Alternate 2- The Mayor appointed Jane Beltz, as Alternate 2 for a one year term expiring 12/31/05.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
The Mayor reappointed Philip Iwanizyn for a three year term expiring 12/31/07 and appointed him Chairman for a one year term expiring 12/31/05.
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
The Mayor reappointed Charlene Haun to a Class A Seat to a four year term expiring 12/31/08. The Mayor reappointed Susan Dickey to a Class C Seat for a four year term expiring 12/31/08.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
The Mayor reappointed John Horensky for a term ending 12/31/07. The Mayor reappointed Susan Dickey to the Affordable Housing Board for a term ending 12/31/07. The Chair will serve as Affordable Housing Officer to work with the new COAH requirements.
LOCAL ASSISTANCE BOARD
The Mayor said he will serve on ths board as representative of the Committee with a term ending 12/31/05.
RECREATION COMMISSION
The Mayor said he will be resigning from the Commission, because the Mayor cannot serve on the Commission and Richard Flint resigned.
The Mayor said he was appointing Stephen Fritts to fill the Mayors unexpired term, ending 12/31/08.
The Mayor reappointed Melville Kries with a term ending 12/31/09.
The Mayor appointed Scott Backer to fill in the unexpired term of Richard Flint, term ending 12/31/07.
The Mayor appointed Mary Buyofsk, representative of the WTYA, as Alternate 1 with a term ending 12/31/06 Joseph De Franza as Alternate 2 with a term ending 12/31/05.
OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Mayor said the appointments were committee appointments. The Mayor made the following recommendations:
Philip Iwanizyn, Environmental Commission, be reappointed to a term ending 12/31/07
Greg Ternhune to be reappointed to a term ending 12/31/07
Al Ivany to be Chairman of the Committee for a term ending 12/31/05
Dempski made a motion that the above recommendations be appointed to the Open Space Advisory Committee, Strunk seconded.
ROLL CAL: Dempski, yes; Strunk, yes; Horensky, yes; Kovacs, yes; Mueller, yes.
APPOINTMENTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS LIAISON TO VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS
The Mayor proposed the following liaisons and noted that he has appointed each liaison to surrounding communities and will try to get shares services and wants a direct contact to that municipality.
MAYOR DAVID DEMPSKI
Open Space Advisory Committee
Affordable Housing Officer
Public Assistance
Tax Assessor
Township Attorney
Township Engineer
Township Web Site
Washington Township Youth Association
Washington Boro
JOHN HORENSKY
Environmental Commission
Administration Secretary
Affordable Housing Board
Central Warren Municipal Court
Emergency Management
Fire District
Public Health
Public Information
Township Clerk
Franklin Township
State & County Officials
MICHAEL A KOVACS
Recreation Commission
Building and Grounds
Assisting with the Budget
Public Utilities
Tax Collector
Washington Township Panthers
Mansfield Township
BARRY MUELLER
Economic Development Commission
Historic Preservation Commission
Animal Control
Department of Public Works
Custodian
Recycling
Schools
Zoning Officer
White Township
DEPUTY MAYOR R.J. STRUNK
Budget
Building Construction Official
Chief Financial Officer
Deputy Treasurer/Finance Secretary
Municipal Alliance
Police Department
Oxford Township
The Mayor said that the Committee can get together at the end of the year and discuss how the liaisons are assigned.
Strunk asked Kovacs for assistance in preparing the budget. Kovacs said he has asked the CFO to prepare it for 2005, but would assist if it was necessary. Kovacs was not sure what format the CFO would be using.
NEW BUSINESS
The Budget Meetings were set for Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. and February 5, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. to discuss the 2005 budget. Strunk said that he will not be available for the February 5th meeting.
COMMENTS FROM OFFICIALS
Mueller said he was looking forward to working with the new mayor. Strunk said he was sure that Dempski will do a good job and supports his nomination as mayor. Kovacs said he was happy to be part of the Committee. Horensky said he wished everybody a happy new year and looked forward to a successful year of governing in Washington Township.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Strunk made a motion to approve the bills, as presented, Horensky seconded,.
ROLL CALL: Strunk, yes; Horensky, yes. Kovacs, abstain; Mueller, yes; Dempski , yes.
The Mayor said that usually there is an adjournment at this time, but there were citizens in the audience, so he felt it was appropriate to open the meeting to the public for comments.
Liz Scovill, 5 Osprey Court wanted to thank the Mayor Horensky for his service to the community, including all the residents at Hawk Pointe during the last two years. Horensky came and spoke to them a year and a half ago and they were very impressed with him and have been since. The appreciate his impartiality and his hard work on behalf of their community. Scovill congratulated Dempski on his appointment as Mayor. Scovill said that she does not speak for all Hawk Pointe Residents, but in behalf of her and her husband, they feel that they support Richard Cotton’s efforts to get the taxes under control, because it isn’t Richard Cotton that will be paying the taxes, it is the members of the Hawk Point Golf Community and the members of the public who golf there. She said that Cotton is a business man and whatever he pays, they will end up paying. The Mayor said it is not personally Richard Cotton, it is Asbury Farms, it is a corporation and he did not want to bring Cotton personally into this, it is a corporation. The Mayor said Cotton is a principle, but it is a corporation and functions as a corporation. Scovill said she does not know the history, but this is a new year and they are all in this together and they want to protect the value of their properties and enhance the community in which they live.
Kovacs made a motion to adjourn at 1:25 p.m., Strunk seconded. All were in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ann O’Neil RMC/CMC
Township Clerk
